Ivan Perisic set to make his Bayern Munich debut against Schalke following loan move from Inter Milan
- The Croatia winger missed the season-opening draw with Hertha Berlin
- Ivan Perisic was suspended but is available now and could start against Schalke
- The seven-time reigning Bundesliga champions will be keen to get a victory
Ivan Perisic is expected to make his Bayern Munich bow this weekend following his loan move from Inter Milan.
The Croatia winger missed the season-opening draw with Hertha Berlin through suspension but is available now and could start against Schalke.
'Ivan is much further along, he started training at the same time as we did, and played several games for Inter Milan in pre-season,' said Kovac.
Ivan Perisic is expected to make his Bayern Munich bow this weekend against Schalke
'He's at the same fitness level as our other players because he took up training earlier than Philippe. I'm very glad we have him.
'He's an option (against Schalke), maybe from the start.'
The seven-time reigning Bundesliga champions will be keen to secure their first victory of the season when they visit the Veltins-Arena, having been held at home by Hertha last weekend.
Bayern have a hugely impressive recent record against Schalke, winning 15 of their last 18 matches against the Gelsenkirchen outfit and drawing the other three.
Despite the fact Bayern have not lost to Schalke since 2010, Kovac is not underestimating the powers of a passionate home crowd and new manager David Wagner.
The Croatia winger missed the season-opening draw with Hertha Berlin through suspension
'Schalke are aggressive, they're strong in defence and at turnovers. We must be prepared,' he said.
'It's the first home game for the new coach so they will be motivated.'
Former Huddersfield boss Wagner was appointed as Schalke coach in May and he too is looking for his first win of the new season following last weekend's goalless draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Wagner knows it will be tough against the champions, but is not ruling out a home win.
'We don't need to talk about how good Bayern are. There's always a chance in football, which makes it so exciting. We will only have that chance if we perform to our best though,' he said at the club's pre-match press conference.
'What's better than playing Bayern in your first home game of the season?'
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